Montville appoints Pallin superintendent of schools

Veteran of district had been in ‘acting’ role

Montville — School board Chairman Robert Mitchell announced Wednesday that acting Superintendent of Schools Laurie Pallin has been permanently appointed to the position.

Pallin has served as acting superintendent since April of 2018 when the school district placed former superintendent Brian Levesque on paid leave. He resigned in October 2018 after reaching an agreement with the school board.

Along with high school Principal Jeffrey Theodoss and Assistant Principal Tatiana Patten, Levesque was charged with failure to report suspected abuse as a mandated reporter following the April arrest of former substitute teacher Ryan Fish, who state police accused of supervising multiple slapboxing bouts in his class last fall. A judge dismissed the case against Levesque.

Pallin has worked in the school district since 1992, when she was hired as a science teacher at the high school.

“During her tenure at Montville, Mrs. Pallin has honed her leadership skills, expanded her vast knowledge of the day-today operations of the district, as well as curriculum,” wrote Mitchell in the school district’s announcement. “For the past nine months, Mrs. Pallin has led the district, demonstrating her resilience and compassionate approach to leadership. The focus of Mrs. Pallin has remained constant on the needs of the students of Montville throughout everything.”

He added the school board looks forward to continuing its work with Pallin to ensure the continued excellence of the town’s schools.